Our goal has always been to motivate, encourage and release our fellow creatives to do their thing
When Hulda Destin reached out to me on Instagram, I was so delighted! She found my page and noticed that I was from Turkiye, and she thought I’d be a great fit for her Local Faces, Global Places series. It was such an honor to be chosen as the very first feature! Hulda is the social media manager for Dynamic Language Services, a language company based in Haddonfield that offers personalized language classes, translation, and interpreting services for both children and adults. They help people connect across cultures through language, making this series a perfect fit for their mission. When we met in person, it was a lovely experience. Hulda was so kind and professional, and she really took the time to appreciate all the little details of my shop. She even said it felt like walking into a museum, which made me so happy to hear! After the interview, we shared some Turkish tea and snacks together; it was such a warm and memorable afternoon. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my story and be part of this community.
Here are all her questions and my answers:
1-Tell them who you are and how long you have been in Haddonfield.
My name is Ylvia Asal, and I have been in business since 2012. Haddonfield is my business’s third location, and I have been in Downtown since September 2018, almost eight years in my business and living in town.
2-Can you tell us a little about your cultural or language background?
I was born on the Black Sea coast of Turkiye, and Turkish is my first language. I grew up in a small city, but I carry the stories of my grandfather, one of his family members who remained after the rest were deported from their homeland. I feel a deep sadness that I never had the chance to learn my ancestors’ language, Romaika, an ancient Greek dialect once spoken in our region. During that time, government policy enforced the slogan ‘Citizen speak Turkish,’ and speaking other languages was not allowed. Today, I speak strong and fluent Turkish, but through my grandfather’s stories, I have also inherited a deep awareness of memory, migration, loss, and the layered histories carried within language.
3-How does language influence your art? Are there specific words, stories, or traditions in Turkish that inspire your creations?
Language is at the heart of my art. Turkish, with its deep poetic history and layered meanings, often finds its way into my work, not just through words, but through rhythm, symbolism, and cultural memory. Phrases, folk stories, lullabies, and proverbs I grew up hearing have a texture of their own. Likewise, women’s fiber arts—where silence speaks through stitches—such as traditional oya, embroidery, crochet, knitting, and quilting, deeply inspire me.
Words like özlem (deep longing) or yadigar (a cherished keepsake) carry an emotional weight that influences how I stitch, choose colors, and create patterns. Traditional Turkish storytelling and oral culture weave a narrative thread through my fiber art. I often translate old sayings into visual forms or let the rhythm of a tale guide the flow of my embroidery. In this way, language does not merely influence—it breathes life into my art.
Expressions like ipin ucunu tutmak (holding the thread’s end), Mendilimde gül oya (rose lace on my handkerchief), or bulgurluya gelin gitmek (going as a bride with bulgurlu vilange)—these cultural phrases and images continue to inspire me.
Culture and language are not just elements of my art—they are living threads that shape identity, belonging, and creative expression. Through my work, I strive to honor the voices, memories, and values embedded in the language and stories I grew up with. Each stitch, pattern, and motif becomes a bridge between the past and the present, between personal memory and shared cultural heritage. By translating these elements into fiber art, I hope to create spaces where others can feel, reflect, and connect with these layers of meaning, whether they share my cultural background or are encountering it for the first time.
4-Do you still speak Turkish regularly, especially when you’re teaching, creating art, or working with clients and customers? How does that influence your connection to your heritage and your work?
Yes, I still speak Turkish regularly—it’s a living part of me. Whether I’m teaching, creating, or simply speaking with customers who share the language, Turkish naturally flows into my day. Sometimes I switch between languages in the studio, especially when explaining techniques rooted in Anatolian traditions. Speaking Turkish keeps me grounded—it connects me to my roots, to my grandparents’ voices, to the songs and stories that shaped who I am. It also reminds me that my art isn’t just craft—it’s cultural memory. Every time I speak or think in Turkish while working, it feels like I’m stitching pieces of home into my creations.
Of course, with customers I speak in English—but sometimes, when a conversation feels warm and familiar, I find myself switching into Turkish without even thinking. I’m always delighted when customers and students greet me with Turkish words they’ve learned while traveling to Turkey or from friends—words like merhaba (hello), nasılsın? (How are you?), or çok güzelsin (you are very beautiful), and when drinking Turkish coffee or biting Turkish delight, they say cok lezzetli ( delicious). Moments like these remind me how language builds connection across borders. In this space, language and art flow together.
5-What inspired you to open your studio here in Haddonfield? What has the experience been like sharing your art with this community?
First, I found my studio space in an ad, and I asked for rent from the real estate agent. I emailed my landlord. I was afraid that he couldn’t give me, but he said your lease is ready, come to pick up.
Opening my studio in Haddonfield felt like planting a seed in the right soil. I was drawn to the town’s charm, its appreciation for history, and the sense of community here. I wanted a space where people could experience art not just as something to admire, but as something to participate in, something that connects cultures and generations. Sharing my art in Haddonfield has been a beautiful journey. People stop in with curiosity, and many leave with stories, sometimes even stitches of their own. It’s been a place of exchange, where my Anatolian heritage meets local hearts, and where old traditions find new meaning
6-How does your business, Ylvia Asal Studio, serve as more than just a place to buy art? What kind of cultural experience are you hoping to give your visitors?
I believe language and art history are deeply intertwined; both carry the memory of a culture. When I practice and work in ancient women’s art forms, I’m not simply exploring techniques or styles; I’m exploring how people once expressed their beliefs, fears, hopes, and identities. And I have found myself in the thought that language gives these expressions meaning.
In Anatolian textiles, for example, certain symbols embroidered onto cloth hold meanings that have been passed down not only through design but through oral stories, lullabies, and proverbs. Without an understanding of the language, these layers of meaning can be lost. Language helps decode the soul of an artwork. Together, language and art history allow me to carry the voices of the past into my hands and share them with others in the present.
Ylvia Asal Studio – Anatolian Cultures and Arts is not just a place to buy art. It is a space where culture, memory, and creativity are shared, kept alive, and learned. As a lace maker and heritage carrier, I see my work as part of a long thread connecting generations of women who have expressed their inner worlds—hopes, fears, and stories—through their hands.
Here, visitors encounter more than beautiful objects; they experience the living language of Anatolian textiles, folk art, and storytelling. Every piece of lace, embroidery, or fiber art I create carries symbols and meanings that often span centuries. I share these stories through my work, through conversations, and through workshops where students can learn not only the techniques but also the cultural context behind them.
The studio also serves as an educational and creative space. I teach art classes and workshops that explore not only the craft of fiber arts—lace-making, embroidery, textile arts—but also the history, symbolism, and language behind each form. Through these classes, participants gain hands-on skills while discovering the cultural meanings embedded in the work. It is an inspiring experience where art-making becomes a bridge to understanding history, community, and identity.
Women’s stories are at the heart of the studio. Many of the ancient techniques I teach were created and passed down by women whose voices were rarely recorded in written history. By practicing these forms and sharing their stories, we honor their resilience and creativity. My goal is to create a space where their contributions are remembered and celebrated through living art.
As a creative business, Ylvia Asal Studio also offers opportunities for artists and visitors to engage with art in meaningful ways. Whether they purchase a handcrafted piece, join a class, attend a talk, or simply visit the studio, I hope each person leaves inspired and connected to the rich cultural traditions of Anatolia.
For shoppers, I hope they take home not just an object, but a piece of this living tradition. For students and artists, I offer a space to learn, create, and be inspired by the wisdom and creativity of the past. For researchers, my studio serves as a bridge between academic knowledge and embodied practice—a place where this art lives not only in books but in the hands and voices of those who continue to carry it forward.
Above all, Ylvia Asal Studio is a place where culture lives, creativity flourishes, and community grows. It is a welcoming space for anyone, whether a casual visitor, a dedicated student, an artist, or a scholar, who wishes to explore the beauty and depth of Anatolian textile traditions and the universal stories they tell.
7-What’s something you love or admire about another culture you’ve experienced?
One thing I deeply admire about many Indigenous and Eastern cultures I’ve encountered is the way art is inseparable from daily life and spiritual meaning. In some communities, a woven cloth, a carved bowl, or an embroidered garment isn’t just decoration it carries prayers, memories, and ancestral knowledge. I’ve experienced this in many cultures where creativity is a form of survival, identity, and resistance. What speaks to me most is the way these cultures honor imperfection, how a handmade object is seen as alive, carrying the maker’s breath, time, and intention. That reverence inspires me to approach my work not just with skill, but with soul.
8-If you could encourage someone to learn a new language or explore a new culture, what would you say?
I would say: be open, be curious, and let yourself be changed. Learning a new language or exploring a new culture is like opening a door to another way of seeing the world and yourself. It teaches humility, patience, and empathy. You start to understand that words, gestures, and colors can mean different things in different places, and that beauty is everywhere if you’re willing to look closely. It’s not just about learning, it’s about connecting. It makes your world bigger and your heart softer. Whether through food, art, stories, or conversation, every step into another culture is a step toward deeper humanity.